Meet sculptor Naresh Kumawat, who crafted a 75 ft long Samudra Manthan mural inside new parliament building

As such, for Kumawat, the idea behind creating the ‘Samudra Manthan’ mural inside the new parliament building signified the churning of ideas and thoughts for public welfare. “About 10 months ago, there were some conversations going on regarding the interiors of the Parliament. We participated in the same and were advised by the Ministry of Culture and Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) to design something on the theme of Angkor Wat and Samudra Manthan, which looked Indianised,” the artist told indianexpress.com.

It took 10 months to make this mural (Source: Naresh Kumawat)

After being commissioned, the sculptor and his team created a few sketches and small mock models that were further improved and modified as per the requirements of the parliament. “I created one more model using clay in my studio, which was again observed and improved by the concerned authorities,” Kumawat said, adding that after approval, the model was casted in panchdhatu – a composition of brass, lead, tin, magnesium, and titanium.

About 40 pieces came together to form this huge 75 feet long and 9 feet tall mural. “This is one of the longest murals in this particular medium. It depicts about 235 sculptures of gods and goddesses. It took my team of about 40 workers 10 months of day-night hard work to bring this mural to life,” he said.

The making of the mural (Source: Naresh Kumawat)

The stunning mural now adorns the Lok Sabha wall in the central foyer where the cultural gallery is located, alongside several other artworks by various artists from across the country. “I got the opportunity to acquire this huge wall in Lok Sabha. I feel extremely fortunate. It has been a phenomenal experience. This is the parliament made by India and in India,” Kumawat said.

This isn’t the only mural crafted by Kumawat for the new parliament building. The artist also created a massive medallion featuring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and BR Ambedkar. “This mural is depicting the ideology of ‘Ek Bharat, Sreshth Bharat’. It is a spherical 25 ft tall mural and is located on one of the three mandapams where the Ashwa Dwar – the main entry of all the dignitaries – is situated,” he said.

The mural featuring BR Ambedkar and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (Source: Naresh Kumawat)

The sculptor said that while Ambedkar is the architect of the Indian Constitution, Patel is the architect of the nation. “These two were chosen by the Cultural Ministry and we sculpted it accordingly,” he said.

Kumawat, whose remarkable works have graced over 80 countries, shared that he collaborates closely with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. These esteemed institutions often approach him with specific mural design requests tailored to their unique needs.

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